Water vehicle



0a. 18, 1927. ZACH ,178

WATER VEHICLE Filed April \215, 1927 Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOHNN ZACH, F MUNICH, GERMANY.

WATER VEHICLE.

Application flied April 26, 1927, Serial No.

My invention relates to water ehicles, being more particularly concerned with the provision of a water vehicle adapted to be used to support the body of a person at or near the surface of the water in bathing, and to permit such person to propel himself about the surface of the water y his own motive power and under his own guidance.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a water vehicle of the class described, which is adapted to perform the foregoing functions with the utmost degree of safety, being provided with floating supporting bodies which are adapted to support the operator at all times, as well as means for adjusting the buoyancy of auxiliary floating bodies to adapt the vehicle to the support of persons of any weight or size.

Another object of my invention is the rovision of a vehicle of the class described having means for its propulsion along the surface of the water, means for assuring stability of the same, means for conveying the vehicle upon the land, and means for the comfortable support of the operator in a recumbent position.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear more fully from the following descrip ion and in the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Reierring to the drawing Fig. 1 1s a side elevational view of my water vehicle,

35 Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, i

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevational view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,and

Fig. 4 is a detailed crosssectional view on the line 4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2., 10 indicates in its entirety the supporting frame for my water vehicle which may consist of a plurality of. tubular sheet metal members bent to the conformation shown and fastened togethei: by any convenient fastening means, such aswelding. For instance, the frame work 10 may consist of the upper longitudinal member 11 having its forward end bent downward at an an le, as at 12, and its rear end bent downward at an angle, as at 13;

d. in Germany October 30, 1926.

so that the ends of the upper frame member 11 are adapted to meet the ends of the lower frame member 14.

The lower frame members which are designated in their entirety by the numeral 14 55 may consist of four equally spaced tubular members on each side, 15, 16, 17 and 18, which are fastened together by transverse bracing members 19 and 20, and which have their ends all converging to a point in such manner as to form a truss. The bracing members 19 and 20 may be extended directly across the bottom of the vehicle connecting the bases of the trusses formed by the tubular members 15 to 18 and the ends of the truss members may be connected by sheet metal members 21 and 22 of substantially the shape shown, which are welded to the truss and frame members. The sheet metal end members 21 and 22 may be filled with cork or other material having great buoyancy.

The bottom of the frame 10 may be covered with one or more pieces of sheet metal 23, 24, and 25, substantially covering all of the bottom of the vehicle, except an aperture 26 which is provided for the propelling pedals. In order to provide additional buoyancy and to protect the thin sheet metal bottom, the end pieces 23 and of the bottom may be covered with a series of spaced wooden cleats 27 and 28, each cleat being supported at each end by one of the frame members of the trusses 14. The central sheet 24 of the vehicle bottom is preferably made of heavier material adapted to support the weight of a person, and in order to provide additional buoyancy, the bottom iece 24 may be covered with a layer of cor 25 on closed in a covering of fabric if desired.

The aperture 26 in the bottom may be adapted to receive a pair of pedals 29 and 30 which are pivoted at their forward edges 31 and provided with springs 32 adapted to hold the pedals in the position shown in Fig. l. The pedals are preferably provided with transverse ledges 33 serving as a foot rest.

The bottom 24 may also be provided with a head rest 84 of substantially wedge shape,- attached to the bottom by a pair. of pivots or hinges and the head rest 34 may be made of cork or other buoyant material covered vented a water vehicle which is adapted to with fabric. The length of the bottom be tween the head rest 34 and the pedals 29 and 30 should preferably be such that the operator may recline upon the bottom piece 24 with his head upon the head rest 34 and his feet in position to actuate the pedals 29 and 30 up and down to propel the boat.

Between the upper frame member 11 and the trusses 14 are supported a pair of elongated buoyant members 36 preferably of cork covered with sheet metal and adapted to provide additional buoyancy for the vehicle. Within the four tubular members com prising the trusses 14 are located the inflatable rubber buoys 37 which are connected to an air pump 38, as well as a valve 39, in such manner that the buoys 37 may be inflated to any desired extent by the pump 38, or deflated by means of the valve 39. It will thus be observed that the center of gravity of the operator upon the bottom 34 will be substantially lower than the center of buoyancy and the buoyant force may be adjusted to any desired amount by means of the rubber buoys 37.

In order to-further increase the stability of the device, I prefer to provide a pair of flat plates 40, extending longitudinally with the frame and depending from the bottom thereof after the manner of a keel. The vehicle may also be provided with a small w'edge shaped keel 41 located at the rear end and adapted to provide pivotal support for the rudder 42. The rudder 42 may be pivotally supported upon the keel member 41 by a hinge of any convenient type and may be biased to central position by a pair of tension springs 43, one located upon each side and extending from the frame to a middle point upon the rudder 42.

In order to actuate the rudder 42 it may likewise be provided with a flexible member attached to each side at the same point as the springs 43, the flexible member 44 passing along the upper frame member 13 through screw eyes or any convenient guiding means, and the flexible members 44 may be provided with a wooden handle 45 adjacent the central part of the vehicle. It will thus be observed that the rudder 42 is adapted to be biased to central position by the springs 43 guiding the vehicle in a straightforward path, unless the operator pulls one or the other of the flexible members 44 to deflect the member 45.

The trusses 14 may also be jointed at a point near the middle of the vehicle by an axle 46 provided at each end with wheels 47, preferably of the disc type with an internal space 48 which is filled with air and adapted to provide additional buoyancy. The wheels 47 may be provided with pneumatic rubber tires 49 of any convenient type.

It will thus be observed that I have inbe transported upon the land. and which is adapted to support a. passenger in recumbent position. permittin him to propel himself in-any direction and to be supported upon the surface of the water with a high degree of safety. By means of the adjustable rubher buoys the buoyant force of the vehicle may be regulated to fit the individual needs of any passenger. and the structure provided is cheap, and easy to manufacture and assemble.

\Vhile I have disclosed a specific embodi ment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a water vehicle for bathing, a tubular metal frame work comprising a pair of truss members, transverse braces, and end frame members, a sheet metal floor sup ported by said truss members, a pair of upper frame members disposed above each of said trusses, buoyant members between said upper frame members and trusses comprising elongated containers filled with cork, and inflatable rubber members sup ported within said trusses and adapted to provide adjustable buoyant force for the vehicle 2. In a water vehicle for bathing,atubular metal frame work comprising a pair of truss members, transverse braces, and end frame members, a sheet metal floor supported by said truss members, a pair of upper frame members disposed above each of said trusses, buoyant members between said upper frame members and trusses comprising elongated containers filled with cork, inflatable rubber members supported within said trusses and adapted to provide adjustable buoyant force for the vehicle, a rudder pivotally supported at the rear end of said vehicle, a pair of springs biasing said rudder to central posi tion, and ropes extending along said upper frame memberswithin guides and attached to said rudder to actuate the same.

3. In a water vehicle for bathing, a tubular metal frame work comprising a pair of truss members, transverse braces, and end frame members, a sheet metal floor sup ported by said truss members, a pair of upper frame members disposed above each of said trusses, buoyant members between said upper frame members and trusses comprising elongated containers filled with cork, inflatable rubber members supported within said trusses and adapted to provide adjustable buoyant force for the vehicle, a rudder pivotally supported at the rear end of said said trusses, and means for propelling said vehicle, a pair of springs biasing said rudder vehicle comprising a pair of pedals pivotalto central position, ropes extending along 1y supported in the bottom of the same. 10 said upper frame members Within guides and In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 5 attached to said rudder to actuate the same, my name this 12th day of April, 1927. a depending sheet metal plate supported u longitudinally of said vehicle below each of JOHANN ZACH. 

